San Antonio Spurs Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Odds & Ends: Chandler, Paul, Spurs, Jamison

October 10th, 2012 at 3:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's round up a few Wednesday odds and ends from around the Association….

Although Wilson Chandler, who signed a five-year deal with the Nuggets earlier in 2012, tells Adrian Dater of the Denver Post that he wouldn't have done anything differently when it comes to playing last year in China, he's looking forward to a bounceback season with the Nuggets.
Ramona Shelburne and Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com debate whether Chris Paul's impending free agency will become a distraction for the Clippers this season. For his part, Paul has said he doesn't expect to pay much attention to his contract situation until season's end.
The Spurs are still seeking a permanent solution for backup point guard behind Tony Parker, writes Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. Gary Neal currently has the leg up for the job, but Patrick Mills and Cory Joseph remain in the mix.
Antawn Jamison spoke to Jeff Miller of the Orange County Register about his decision to sign with the Lakers after he received the OK from his family in North Carolina.
In an Insider piece, ESPN.com's Chad Ford takes an early look at some of the top ACC prospects expected to be part of the 2013 draft class.
The Santa Cruz Warriors are interested in selecting Japeth Aguilar of the Philippines in the D-League draft, according to Sid Ventura of Yahoo! Sports. Golden State's D-League affiliate officially received approval today to relocate to Santa Cruz for the 2012/13 season.

Odds & Ends: Samuels, Blair, Mavs, Gordon

October 9th, 2012 at 10:26pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Tuesday night:

Sam Amico of FoxSportsOhio.com says the Cavs can expect an improved Samardo Samuels this season.
Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express News reports that the Spurs are impressed with DeJuan Blair's training camp.
Sean Deveney of the Sporting News previews the Mavericks' season and says that their roster is constructed with future free-agent moves in mind.
Steve Reed of the Associated Press writes (link via the Detroit Free Press) that the Bobcats are expecting Ben Gordon, acquired from the Pistons this summer, to finish games for them this season.
Alex Raskin of HoopsWorld.com has a list of training-camp invitees with a shot at making NBA rosters this season.

Texas Notes: Spurs, Lin, Rockets, Holloway

October 9th, 2012 at 3:14pm CST by Chuck Myron

We rounded up news from the Mavericks earlier today as they continue their European tour, but there's still more from the Lone Star state, where the Spurs, with an 18-to-1 shot, are the most likely of the three Texas teams to win the championship, according to odds released today by the Bovada sports book.

The Spurs have announced Sean Marks as their new director of basketball operations and GM of the Austin Toros, their D-League affiliate.
The Rockets' commitment of more than $25MM to Jeremy Lin, a player with a tiny sample size of success whom the Knicks passed on keeping, says much about the team's inability to break out of a cycle of mediocrity, Fran Blinebury of Rockets.com writes.
With 11 players eligible to be sent down to the D-League at some point this season, Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside examines how the Rio Grande Valley Vipers will play a key role in player development this season for the Rockets, their parent club. Pilato notes Scott Machado and Kyle Fogg have given their blessing to D-League assignments this season if the Rockets want to send them down.
Fellow Ridiculous Upside scribe Keith Schlosser wonders what's next for former Xavier guard Tu Holloway, a training camp invitee whom the Mavs curiously let go before camp even began.

Odds & Ends: Martin, Celtics, Leuer, Lakers

October 9th, 2012 at 11:55am CST by Zachary Links

In a piece for Grantland.com, Zach Lowe looks at the different tiers in the Association after a wild offseason. In Lowe's opinion, the real title contenders this year are the Heat, Spurs, Thunder, and Lakers. Further down the list, you'll find the Nets and the Knicks who are classified as having exciting upside but too many questions to be considered real title threats. The Nets, he argues, may not get much bench production outside of C.J. Watson and MarShon Brooks. Meanwhile, most of the Knicks' big name offseason additions strike Lowe as league-average types who won't really make a major difference. Here's more from around the league..

In the wake of Jordan Hill's back injury, Sam Amico of FOX Sports (via Twitter) expects the Lakers to sign a veteran big man to a minimum contract, possibly Kenyon Martin. Martin plied his craft at the Staples Center last season with the Clippers and played well despite not lighting up the stat sheet.
While giving credit to the Celtics' 2008 championship team, point guard Rajon Rondo opined that this year's club is the strongest yet, writes Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald. This year's Celtics squad underwent a number of changes, including guard Jason Terry taking the place of Ray Allen.
After being claimed off of waivers by the Rockets this summer, Jon Leuer is making a strong impression with the Cavs in camp this summer, writes Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld. Coach Byron Scott believes that the team needs to help Leuer build confidence after bouncing around between a few clubs at the age of 23.
Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld believes that Kobe Bryant will have to play beyond 2013/14 if he hopes to capture two more championship rings. Bryant reiterated yesterday that he plans to retire after his current contract expires in two seasons.

Southwest Rumors: Mayo, Nowitzki, Leonard

October 8th, 2012 at 12:51pm CST by Chuck Myron

Southwest Division teams haven't been shy about making cuts the past few days. The Spurs let go of Sherron Collins on Friday, and Sunday the Grizzlies waived D.J. Kennedy and Jarrid Famous. The Hornets will reportedly shorten their preseason bench as well, as they're set to waive Dominique Morrison. While the competition for space on the fringes of the roster gets more intense, more established players can plan far beyond October.

O.J. Mayo deemed his time with the Grizzlies "a little bit of a failure," according to Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype (Sulia link). "I felt like I could have done better (in Memphis)," Mayo said. "Starting and then moving to bench would be tough on everybody. I had started all my life, so that was something I had to adjust to. It's a new opportunity in Dallas, so I have to play hard and hold my ground."

Earlier updates:

Dirk Nowitzki, in Spain on the Mavs' European tour, said he was recruited by Spanish club FC Barcelona before he came over to play in the NBA, and didn't completely rule out playing in Europe after he completes the final two years of his contract with Dallas. He told reporters, including Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, that he might favor the the shorter European schedule if his body no longer feels up to an 82-game season, but cautioned, "All that is a possibility, but as of now, I don’t actually see a chance.’’
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has spoken about his desire for Kawhi Leonard to spend his entire career with the team , and though the second-year player is a long way off from free agency, Leonard says he's open to remaining with the Spurs long-term, and cites Tim Duncan as his example to follow, writes Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
Rockets coach Kevin McHale, on KBME radio Houston with Matt Thomas, said all five starting spots are up for grabs (transcription via Eric Schmoldt of Sports Radio Interviews).

Bucks, Blazers, Hornets, Bulls Eyeing Eddy Curry

October 8th, 2012 at 8:25am CST by Chuck Myron

Eddy Curry is trying to resurrect his career in training camp with the Spurs, but if he doesn't make the team, it appears he'll plenty of other options. Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio hears the Bucks, Trail Blazers, Hornets and Bulls all could have interest in the 29-year-old 7-footer if the Spurs cut him loose (Sulia link).

Curry was a surprise addition to San Antonio's roster as training camp began last week, and he was reportedly looking fit after having dropped 15 pounds over the summer. The Spurs only have 12 players on fully guaranteed deals, but DeJuan Blair, who has a partial guarantee, and Gary Neal seem destined to make the team, likely leaving just one spot for Curry and four other hopefuls. The early returns indicate that fellow camp invitee Josh Powell is ahead of Curry for that spot, though three weeks still remain before the regular season.

Wherever Curry winds up, he'll likely be getting the minimum salary, which he made last year on a one-year deal with the Heat. He appeared in only 14 games for Miami, averaging 2.1 points and 0.9 rebounds in 5.9 minutes, and didn't play in the postseason. He's only played 21 games total since his last significant action, which came in 2007/08 when he started 58 games for the Knicks amidst a six-year, $56MM deal.

If he winds up with the Bulls, it probably wouldn't be until late November, when the minimum salary pro-rates down to a figure that would fit under their $70.307MM hard cap. Chicago would have to waive or trade one of its guaranteed contracts to put Curry on the regular season roster before then.

Southwest Rumors: Powell, De Colo, Machado

October 7th, 2012 at 10:58am CST by Chuck Myron

The Mavericks were the first Southwest Division team to begin preseason play, doing so overseas yesterday with an 89-84 win over Alba Berlin in Dirk Nowitzki's native Germany. Before the game, commissioner David Stern said the league's revamped competition committee was cool to his idea of adopting the FIBA more liberal goaltending rules, noted Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. Stern has pushed for changes to the way basket interference is called, so it's interesting to note that the commissioner apparently didn't get his way despite a new competition committee that some believe was restructured to give Stern more influence. Here's the latest from around the Southwest Division:

It's still a long way until the Spurs have to make a decision, but Josh Powell appears to have an early lead on Eddy Curry and Derrick Brown for a spot on the regular season roster, according to Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News. The competition was thinned a bit Friday when the Spurs waived Sherron Collins, taking their camp roster down to 19 players.
In the same piece, McCarney cautions readers not to get too caught up in what they saw from rookie Nando De Colo in the Spurs' victory Saturday over Italian club Montepaschi Siena, a slick passing performance that prompted teammate Stephen Jackson to call him "another Manu Ginobili."
Jason Friedman of Rockets.com shares some observations from Rockets camp, and says rookie guard Scott Machado, with the team on a minimum-salary deal that's partially guaranteed for $237K, is making a strong impression.
Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune chronicles the unlikely journey of Anthony Davis from a 5'9" eighth-grader in Chicago to the 6'10" Olympic gold medalist and No. 1 overall pick he is today, as he embarks on his first training camp with the Hornets.

Spurs Waive Sherron Collins

October 5th, 2012 at 2:16pm CST by Michael Pina

The Spurs have waived former Kansas guard Sherron Collins, according to the team's website. The 25-year-old point guard was signed to the team's training camp roster on October 1st. After appearing in 20 games during the 2010/11 season with the Bobcats, Collins was not in the NBA last year. San Antonio's roster now stands at 19 players.

Odds & Ends: Ginobili, Smith, Knicks, Fields

October 5th, 2012 at 12:47pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier this week, Manu Ginobili told reporters that if he continues playing beyond this season, he absolutely wants it to be in San Antonio. The 35-year-old will make over $14MM in 2012/13 but sounds willing to take a pay cut, as teammate Tim Duncan did, to help keep the club under the tax threshold. The Spurs tend to keep things quiet when it comes to contract extensions and Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld wouldn't be surprised to see the team suddenly announce that they've reached agreement with the veteran. The interest is obviously mutual, which should allow for an agreement to be struck before next summer. Here's more from around the league..

In his latest mailbag, Sam Smith of NBA.com writes that he doesn't see the Hawks making the playoffs and doesn't see Josh Smith staying quiet for long. Hawks General Manager Danny Ferry recently said that the forward wants to remain in Atlanta but wasn't optimistic about working out an extension with him as he can get a larger deal by first hitting the open market.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson believes that the team's greatly improved depth this season will be key to their success, writes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com. The Knicks are currently looking to see what Rasheed Wallace has left in the tank and could conceivably give Josh Howard a look if they trim their camp roster down from the maximum of 20.
Offseason acquisition Landry Fields could fill the same "glue guy" role for the Raptors as Jorge Garbajosa did in the past, writes Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun. Fields inked a lucrative three-year, $18.7MM deal with Toronto over the summer.

Stephen Jackson Wants Contract Extension

October 5th, 2012 at 12:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Last season, Stephen Jackson forced his mid-season exit from Milwaukee as he demanded a contract extension from the club. Now with San Antonio, Jackson says that he is still hoping to land an extension to his deal which expires after the 2012/13 season, writes Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News.

“I want it, but I can’t control it,” said the 34-year-old. “Every day when I walk in here I’m hoping they’ll call me in and say, ‘Jack, here’s your extension.’“

Jackson went on to say that he won’t let the contract situation or his off-the-bench role affect his play going into this season. While the veteran’s demands for a contract extension ultimately pushed the Bucks to send him to Golden State as a part of the Monta Ellis blockbuster, his deteriorating relationship with coach Scott Skiles also played a measurable role in his exit.

The small forward arrived in San Antonio two days later, where coach Gregg Popovich informed him that an extension was not in the works. Jackson is set to earn $10MM in the final year of his pact.